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Meet Chelsea Gelbart*

Young professional by day, mountain climber by weekend

MY HARDEST CLIMB

It was April 2015, and I was climbing Mt. Whitney in California and training for a much more rigorous climb of Mt. Blanc in France. I had always dreamed of summiting Mt. Blanc and had received a grant for the climb through the American Alpine club. During the Mt. Whitney climb, I felt horrible but chalked it up to the altitude sickness since I started feeling a little better on the way down. When I got home, I still wasn’t feeling well. I was extremely thirsty and visiting the bathroom a lot more than usual. Soon after that climb, I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 24.

CGM FIRST

I walked into my endocrinologist’s office and said ‘what do I need to do to get this under control so I can continue to climb?’ My endo and diabetes educator became my team. They said they’ll help me get there, but first I needed a Dexcom Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) System. Although my diagnosis was overwhelming, I decided to focus on my goals to keep climbing. My family and supporters helped me remain focused and continue on with my dreams.

*Paid spokesperson for Dexcom, Inc.

“Some days, diabetes feels like a mountain – some days it’s like a bunny hill. ”

Climbing partners

Once I got started on the Dexcom CGM System, I fell into a rhythm right away. By seeing the glucose readings every 5 minutes, I quickly understood how my body was working and how food and exercise affected my glucose levels. It was because of climbing that I also became aware of the role altitude played in my glucose levels. The Dexcom CGM Systems quickly became a vital part of my climbing tool kit.

Climbing up and moving forward

Getting to a place where I was following through on these promises I made to myself to do the Mt. Blanc climb – and to do it now – really meant a lot to me. I proved to myself that although I have diabetes, I can still accomplish my dreams and live life to the fullest. Without the Dexcom CGM System, I wouldn’t have felt comfortable going on these climbs so quickly. It has been an invaluable tool since the beginning.

Since being diagnosed, I have decided that I wanted to contribute and be part of

diabetes care and research. To help achieve this goal, I have decided to go to

nursing school and become a nurse practitioner.

Diabetes is hard. But now I have the opportunity to encourage other people to do more research and really dig deeper. By having a tool like the Dexcom CGM System, it allows me to empower myself to take control of my diabetes.

*G5 Mobile approved for use from -1,300 ft. to 13,800 ft.

“What I’ve learned is that it’s important to change the challenge into an opportunity. ”

Become a Warrior

If you’re interested in becoming a Dexcom Warrior, tell us about yourself using the link below and how you would like to educate others about diabetes. If we choose to feature your story, a member of our Warriors Committee will reach out to you to provide